This is a very unique and special book that gathers authors Ive seen on the book shelf at my job, interviewed or reviewed their book on my blog. It was very sobering to read many of these authors stories. Im so thankful to have received a review copy of this book. The stories in this book are honest, heartfelt and inspirational. More proof that we are all a work in progress. God does His best work in our lives in times of troubles in community and the body of Christ!Elizabeth Musser states in her story, I truly believe that God never wastes the pain in our livesPain called me to God and made me completely dependent on Him. God gave me the strength to carry on!, author of The Swan House.Robin Jones Gunn author best know for the Sister Chicks series said, Yes, my life capsized. But I was being carried along on the unforced rhythm of Gods grace.Many of the authors in Pearl Girls share their struggles and some very personal situations they encountered. I loved how vulnerable and honest there stories were and how they acted or reacted in having to trust God completely in their crisis! God deals with us and loves us in a very personal way. He is involved in every detail of our lives, their stories show this in a real way.God was therelike a lifeline, He was holding my hand, I clung to Gods hand like Id never clung before. I knew that without Him, I would drown-simply to escape the pain. Melody Carlson.Youll be encouraged as you read these stories. I was.

Pearl girls is a compilation of some of my favorite authors and respected writers (sixty in total) who share their personal story of faith with you. Youll be encouraged and inspired by their honesty and sincerity. Let Margaret take you by the hand and lead you to the place where grit encounters grace. And see for yourself what it means to become a PEARL GIRL. What I like about this book:First off its easy to get into. You can read a story here and there. I love these books as a mother because sometimes I can only get two or three minutes to myself during the day. There are oodles of authors, so there are lots of ladies you can relate to and feel connected with. Youll find God throughout these pages and be touched by a lot of the stories. I found myself smiling and teary-eyed in the same breath! It was easy to love this book because it touched on so many levels of life and had so many wonderful authors involved in it.The amazing thing about this book is that Margaret Mcsweeney gives 100% of the proceeds go to two charities! Isnt that amazing? This book is not only encouraging and life changing to us as women, but it is also changing lives of those who really need it. Check out the charities:WINGS (women in need growing stronger). The proceeds will help fund a Safe House in the Chicago suburbs. www.wingsprogram.com and Hands of Hope. The proceeds will help build wells in Uganda for school children. www.handsofhopeonline.org For me, my favorite and somewhat surprising story that I loved was by Debbie Macomber From a Marriage on the Rocks to One Built on The Rock; her honesty and openness truly touched me. If youre a Chicken Soup for the Soul kinda reader youll really love this book, but in all honesty ANY and every woman can find inspiration in the pages of this book. We are all pearl girls.

Pearl Girls edited by Margaret McSweeney is an moving book filled with stories to encourage your heart. A pearl girl is any woman who has turned the grit of her life into something beautiful, and each one of the authors of the stories within this book is a true gem. The stories run the gamut from hilarious to heart-breaking to hopeful. It's not the kind of book you want to zip through in one reading, but to take time to savor each story and take in its full message. Stories of rape, abuse, and depression all offer hope to readers that there is beauty on the other side, beauty offered by God, friends, and family. Some stories will give readers perspective on their own lives, others offer comfort in the knowledge that we are not alone, but all will touch the heart. All proceeds will benefit a safe house in the Chicago suburbs and women and children with AIDS in Africa.